Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-29
KNIGHTS AND THE CHURCH.
All the Objections of the Papal
Authorities Answered.

All the Objections of the Papal
Authorities Answered.
ROME, March 2S.-The text of Cardinal
Gibbons report on the knights Of Labor,
as published IN the Mouiteur de Rome
shows that several additions have been
made to the report as originally publish
ed. Referring to the objections urged
against the organization the Cardinal
says: sit is objected that in this kind of
organization Catholics mix with Protest.
ants to the peril of their faith. Among a
mixed people like ours separation Of
religions in civil affairs is not possible.
TO suppose that the faith OF Catholics
! suffers shows Ignorance of the Catholic
| wOrkmen of America. who regard the
| church as their mother. They are intel
| ligent, instructed, devoted and ready TO
give their blood as they give their hard
earned gains for her support and proteo-
| tlon."
PRIESTS AS LEADERS.
TO the question whether it would not
| he better to have the organizations con-
Quoted by priests under the direct intlu-
ence of religion, the Cardinal frankly re-
| plies that he thinks it neither possible nor
necessary. sin our country" he says,
''we have abundant means OF making
| Catholics good without going 50 far"
IL being objected that liberty OF organi-
ZatiOn exposes Catholics to deadly IN
| fluences and associates more dangerous
than even Atheists, Communists and
Anarchists, the Cardinal says 1t was
true, but tnat proof OF faith would not
| try American Catholics. To such inilu-
ences they were exposed every day, and
they knew them well and despised them.
RULED OUT.
The leaders of the knights of Labor
! related how these violent, aggressive ele-
menIs strOve to gain authority in their
councils, or insinuate poison into the
principles OF the ASSOCIATION, and also
told Of the determination with which
they were repelled. Danger would arise
from GOODNESS between the church and
her children, which nothing would more
surely occasion than imprudent condem-
nations.
RIOTOUS STRIKES.
Special stress being laid upon violence,
even to the shedding OF blood, which has
characterized several strikes inaugurated
| by workingmen's associations, the Car
dinal says: 81 have three things to re-
mark: First, strikes are not the invention
of the Knights, but a universal perpetual
means by which workmen protest
against what is unjust and demand their
rights; second, IN such a struggle
| of multitudes or poor against
hard, obstinate monopoly wrath aud yio-
Ience are often as inevitable as they are
regretable; third, the laws and principal
authorities of knights, so far from encour-
aging violence or occasions for violence,
exercise powerful preventive influence
seeking to keep strikes within the limits
| Of legitimate action.
i NON no mr. AAFu
"Au attentive examination into the
violent struggles between labor and capi-
| tai has convinced me of the injustice OF
| attributing violence TO the knights. Their
principal authorities have proved the
| fact that it is as unreasonable to at
| tribute violence to the Knights as to at
tribute to the church fOllies aud crimes
of her children, against which she pro-
tests"
This thought is admirably developed
by the Cardinal. He says the part OF
Christian prudence is to attempt TO bind
the hearts OF the multitude with ties OF
love for the purpose of controlling them
by principles OF faith. justice and charity,
and TO recognize the truth and Justice OF
| their cause. Removed from what Is false
and criminal there will converge In a
legitimate, peaceable, beneticent struggle
that which by repulsiye severity might
| become for the masses OF our people
volcanic abyss similar to that which So
ciety fears and deplores In Europe"
ASPECT OF THE COUNTRY.
The Cardinal insists strongly and at
| length on this point. He then refers TO
the spect OF the country; that OF popular
power regulated by love OF order, respect
| for religion. obedience to the laws. Not
the democracy of license and violence,
| but true democracy, which seeks the
general prosperity by ways OF sound
principles and good social order. Religion
is necessary to preserve so desirable u
state of affairs.
FRIEND OF THE PEOPLE.
Among the church's glorious titles none
at present gives her such influence as
that OF "lrlend OF the people" in our dem
ocratic nation. That Is the Sitle which
gains for the Catholic Church not only
The enthusiastic devotion of millions OF
her children, but the respect and admira-
ton OF all of our citizens, whatever their
religious beliefs. He recognized that tine
| great question OF the future IL not ques-
ton or war, commerce or finance, but a
social question touching the ameliOratiOn
of the condition Of the popular masses,
especially OF the workingmen. Therefore
10 is of sovereign Importance that the
church be found always firmly ranged on
the side of humanity and justice toward
the multitudes composing the body or the
human family. The conditions OF the
lower class 1t present cannot aud should